Chapter 29: A Small Ripple (Part 2) (First Update)

  First update seeking recommendations and collections... Also, I feel that the first half of this chapter is written a bit awkwardly...

  Thank you for the rewards and comments from classmates who are angry but don't argue, thank you for the rewards from sad classmates.

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  An Junhe rushed to Quan Baogen's office after answering the phone, that familiar small space, which was not lit at this time. The half-opened leaves of the venetian blinds on the window side only allowed a few dim rays of light to penetrate, and the light and shadow clearly cut off the interior of the room. In one corner of the room, a spark was flickering there, and thick smoke was also spewing out, changing shape in the beam of light and darkness.

  An Junhe had just opened the door when he was choked by the thick smoke inside, coughing several times. He frowned and waved his hand to fan the air, feeling around to turn on the light, and the swirling smoke in the room as well as Quan Baogen smoking silently in the corner came into view.

  "Uncle Bao Gen, smoke less!"

  An Junhe, who was also smoking, said as he went to open the window. The slightly cool outside air poured in, and the fresh air dispersed the smoke, blowing it away in waves, making him feel much more comfortable breathing.

  Quan Baogen didn't respond, and the cigarette in his hand naturally wasn't extinguished either. The face hidden behind the smoke had a hint of sadness, but more was a suppressed anger.

  "I just don't get it..." He fell silent for a long time before finally speaking up, "...things were going smoothly, how did it end up like this, and suddenly some nonsense pops up!"

  He suddenly burst out, fiercely stomping the cigarette butt in his hand, and violently kicking a few times, hysterically cursing: "Damn it! In these six months, I've never had a smooth thing happen. Every time it's about to be done, I'm suddenly given a blow. Who did I offend? Do you want to play with me like this?"

  With a loud "bang", he kicked the three-legged stool beside him, and the ornamental potted landscape on it flew out together with the stool, crashing into the wall corner with a loud crash, shattering into powder.

  Let him throw his temper, Ahn Jun-hee silently turned his back to the window and didn't say a word. It's not surprising that Gwon Baek-ru lost his composure like this. Even when he first heard the news, he had an urge to scold someone. This matter is neither big nor small, it depends on the other person's identity. If it were just a simple director, it would be fine, but KBS is a large TV station with a long history that has undergone several reorganizations and mergers. Except for state-owned capital, the shares have been dispersed, and many people who hold shares have become directors. Many early employees who were rewarded with shares by the TV station can get such a title after retirement.

  Such so-called things don't need to be reasoned or considered at all.

  But if it's not simple, but rather a matter of principle with both general and special affairs hanging in the balance, things become much more complicated.

  Quan Baogen kicked over the potted plant, venting his anger, and sat heavily on the sofa behind him, panting. The atmosphere in the room became oppressive, and after a moment, An Junhe finally spoke up: "What did the company say?"

  "I've looked for the director, but... " Quan Baogen hugged his head and replied in a low voice, "When I came back, I just reported to him that you got the second male lead, but within a few hours, he said this matter was going to fall through... What do you think his reaction would be?"

  What else can be said? After all, the crew and our side only had a verbal agreement, no contract was signed, and the company was not notified. Who knows whether you, Quan Baogen and An Junhe, are telling the truth or lying? Probably just another round of loud scolding!

  But...

  An Junhe looked at the dispirited Kwon Bo-geun and for the first time felt that choosing him as his agent might have been a mistake. Perhaps it was due to Lee Soo-man's influence, but over the past few months, with power slipping from his grasp, the middle-aged man became increasingly anxious and lived under Lee Soo-man's shadow. Now, even small setbacks were magnified by this hidden weakness, becoming insurmountable obstacles.

  Such a person is too pedantic!

  In his mind, such thoughts flashed by, An Junhe pursed his lips and drove them away.

  After all, he still entered the company through Bao Gen's hands. Regardless of their emotional relationship, interests or his own conscience, they did not allow him to abandon this middle-aged man at this time. So he advised: "Uncle Bao Gen, the company is not just one person! Why don't you find other directors? Since Li Screenwriter informed you of the news instead of canceling my participation decision, it means that the crew is still on our side. With such an advantage, as long as the company makes a little effort, this matter can be solved immediately... What they want is profit and product launch. We have already done more than half of it, success is in sight, why not give them the remaining bit?"

  There was something he didn't say, the company's high-level is now openly competing and secretly fighting, Li Xiu has in his hands the control of artists and trainees, the most important resources for the company, all the artists who have debuted so far only listen to him, those directors are worried that they can't find an opportunity to split the power in his hands, at this time relying on past words...

  "But... if we look for them, what about the president's side..." Kuan Baogen hesitated.

  An Junhe naturally understood what he was worried about, and could only smile helplessly: "Bao Gen Shu, if he gives you another chance, you won't be scolded when you look for him... You're not betraying him, but he's forcing you to do so..."

  In the same vein, put in a more delicate way, it can always leave people with some small comfort, just like now.

  Staring blankly at him, Quan Baogen put down his hands that had messed up his hair and lit another cigarette, taking a few fierce puffs.

  Thick smoke swirled around, making the eyes hidden behind it vague and blurry, but An Junhe could still feel that his gaze was flickering, as if he was engaged in a fierce psychological struggle.

  The obstacles he set for himself, others can't help much, An Junhe just waited patiently.

  After a long time, Quan Baogen suddenly extinguished the cigarette butt fiercely, stood up with a loud noise, and said in a hoarse voice: "Listen to you, I'll go find other directors now... damn it, anyway, death is not death!"

  ...Fortunately didn't disappoint me...

  Upon hearing this, An Jun let out a sigh of relief and then smiled, saying: "I'll accompany you there!"

  "You wait here for news from me."

  Having made up his mind, Guan Baogen immediately became energetic and efficient again. As he spoke, he hastily stepped out the door.

  Leaving An Junhe alone in the office, he didn't feel bored at all. He started making phone calls to contact his older cousin, who was an investor. Although his cousin might not have had much say in this matter, he could still be used as a force. More importantly, he wanted his cousin to investigate who was competing with him for the role of Male No. 2.

  For some reason, I keep thinking of the young man I met in front of the KBS main building this morning.

  "I hope it's not you..."

  The scene in his mind was frozen on the young man's last movement, his lips curling up in a curse, and An Junhe's eyes were cold and indifferent.

  ……

  Although An Junhe knew that the directors of the company would accept their surrender when he encouraged Quan Baogen to find them, the enthusiasm of the directors was still beyond his imagination. Not long after, Quan Baogen called back - the matter had been settled.

  There is a director who has a good relationship with the KBS high-level, and made a call to that side, but it was just a lip service, and the small storm subsided.

  It may be a bit exaggerated to say so, but according to later understanding, the KBS high-level also inquired about the beginning and end of the drama group's affairs, because the drama group strongly supported Ahn Jun-hee, and only then suppressed Kim Lee's opposing voice.

  However, the power of connections also played a role here. Without the company's director making a call, how would KBS' high-level executives have had the leisure to pay attention to this small matter?

  It seemed that things had passed like this, and the next day, Quan Baogen took An Junhe to KBS TV station again, and after negotiating with the crew, he signed a contract and played the role of the second male lead. It was only at this moment that it was officially confirmed.

  An Jun-he is also getting closer and closer to his official debut day.

  The company's propaganda department has started to create a personal website for him, perhaps those directors want to show their favor to the artist who defected to them. Not only that, but they also arranged an assistant, a makeup artist, and a stylist for him. Even the modern business car he had just replaced was taken back by the company, and instead, a minivan was arranged for him. Basically, all the necessary configurations for an artist have been set up.

  The crew is still selecting the male and female leads, and the specific start date of filming has yet to be determined. During this time, An Junhe does not plan to waste any time, but instead rushes to the crew every day. On one hand, he naturally communicates with the screenwriter to understand the script, and on the other hand, he makes an effort to build a good relationship with the crew members. After all, they will be working together for a long time, and if his relationship with them is not good, it would be disastrous when they make things difficult for him during filming as a newcomer.

  In the meantime, Park Young-joon investigated and found out that the person who almost stole his role was Ahn Jun-hee. After looking at the photo, he confirmed that it was indeed the young man he saw on the day of the audition at the KBS entrance, named Jung Kyung-ho, whose father is a famous director named Jung Eul-young.

  Now that things have been settled, An Junhe didn't pay much attention to it anymore and casually told his brother to stop the investigation.

  He didn't think that while he stopped investigating, some people were still continuing.

  Two weeks later, on a certain day, An Junhe was riding in a van to the film set when he suddenly received a call from an unfamiliar number. After answering it, a young and arrogant yet slightly drunk voice came through: "Is this An Junhe?"

  It's a flat tone and also very unfriendly, An Junhe frowned, "You are..."

  "You're great... really great! Feeling pretty proud of yourself now? Leaning against a big tree, easily stealing my role away from me, doesn't it feel good?"

  A sharp roar burst out of the receiver. By this time, An Junhe already knew who it was and his face turned somewhat unsightly.

  Unexpectedly, the other party also found him and got his phone number. His phone number was not told to many people, only friends knew, and it was registered in the company and the crew, I don't know who leaked it.

  "But now is not the time to dwell on those things. Suppressing the anger in his heart, An Junhe said in a deep voice: 'Is that Zheng Jinghao? You're drunk, I can forget this conversation, and I hope you can restrain your behavior. If there's a next time, I'll report you for harassment, that's all.'"

  He hung up and shut down, no need to waste words on such a loser!

  At the moment the phone hung up, in a messy private room of a bar far away, a young man who was drunk smashed his mobile phone fiercely. The roar of shame and anger echoed in that small space: "Dare to hang up my call! You all bully me, look down on me... shoot TV series... I let you shoot, shoot for the ghost to see!"

  Along with it rose a mad laughter like an owl's hooting at night.

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